Framingham: Speakers say it's time to move on from marathon bombings

Monday

Apr 7, 2014 at 12:01 AM

By Anamika RoyDaily News Staff

FRAMINGHAM - As this year’s Boston Marathon draws closer, people are reflecting on last year’s bombing and wondering whether the historic race will ever be the same. But while April 15, the date of last year's Marathon, will be a day of rememberance, April 21 will be about moving on.Tom Grilk, executive director of the Boston Athletic Association, and writer Dave Wedge addressed more than 100 people at Temple Beth Am’s Brotherhood Breakfast on Sunday.In an emotional set of speeches, both speakers talked about the aftermath of last year’s bombing and what it means for Marathon Monday in two weeks.Wedge, who was a reporter with the Boston Herald during the bombing, compared Boylston Street to Ground Zero, calling the finish line “a war zone.”“It’s not something you see in this country,” he said. Wedge was originally sent to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, which had caught on fire and was thought to be connected to the bombing. The fire was later called an unrelated accident.Grilk described the scenes of bravery at the finish line last year, how people ran toward the bombs to help victims, medical tents equipped for basic running injuries became trauma centers and student volunteers became doctors.“The Boston Marathon is a product of its history,” said Grilk. “If someone attacks, people don’t just give in.”Nearly 5,000 runners vowed to finish the race this year and many others wanted to run in support of a victim. To accommodate those people, the race expanded from 27,000 to 36,000 runners this year.“It was a lot to ask of cities and towns,” said Grilk, joking that the roads are not much different from what they were in 1897.Security measures have been increased this year. Runners will only be allowed to check a bag at Boston Common before the race but not at the starting line in Hopkinton. There will be some other added security measures for runners and spectators as well.Wedge will be at the Marathon interviewing people for his book, “Boston Strong.” He has written about the bombing victims extensively over the past year and recently left his job at the Herald to work full-time on the book with co-author Casey Sherman.The book focuses on the stories of victims and the people who came together in the aftermath of the bombing.“Boston Strong, it’s not just a cliche, not just a slogan,” said Wedge.Anamika Roy can be reached at 508-626-3957 or aroy@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @anamikaroy.